Ex-Blackwater mercenaries avoid felony convictions. (VIDEO)

Nearly five years ago, the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided the organization formerly known as Blackwater and seized 22 automatic weapons.

Five of the former Blackwater officials were accused of using unregistered guns and using a local sheriff's office as a proxy to purchase the automatic weapons, but recently most of the felony firearms violations charges were dropped.

The verdict has many wondering did the punishment fit the crime? Michael O'Brien, author of America's Failure in Iraq, joins us to discuss the case.